Here we can see, “”Reset This PC” in Windows 10 has gotten much more powerful”
The “Reset This PC” option has been available since Windows 8, but it has evolved significantly since then. Microsoft continually improves it, and it’s easy to overlook all of the enhancements. The most recent and noticeable is Cloud Download.
What Does “Reset This PC” Do?
According to Microsoft’s Aaron Lower, a project manager in charge of Recovery at Microsoft, on a Windows Insider Webinar, the Reset This PC feature makes it “nearly if you just opened your PC for the first time.” If you’re selling or giving away your computer, you can delete all of your files and even wipe your hard disc to ensure that your data is unrecoverable. In addition, you’ll obtain a fresh Windows OS if you have a PC problem or want a clean Windows system.
You have the option of keeping or deleting your files while restarting your computer. In either case, Windows will wipe your hard drive and install a new operating system.
- To reset a PC, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery or the Advanced Startup Options menu’s Troubleshoot > Reset This PC option.
- This menu appears when your computer fails to launch, but you can also access it by holding down the Shift key while clicking the “Restart” option in the Windows Start menu or on the login screen.
- Windows will gather the data it requires and, in effect, create a new Windows installation. Then, if you desire, it will migrate your files, device drivers, and preinstalled apps to the new system.
When Should You Use Reset This Pc?
Resetting This PC is usually always a last-ditch fix. This PC is a large hammer—great for big nails but maybe overkill for a thumbtack. Reset In other words, when the problem appears to be Windows-related, and all other troubleshooting methods have failed, the Reset This PC application is an excellent option.
- Let’s imagine you’re debugging a severe issue caused by a Windows upgrade, and Windows 11 isn’t starting properly. You’ve tried everything you can think of to solve the problem and scoured the internet for help, but you’re out of options.
- At this time, Reset This PC is your lifesaver—a surefire solution to a vexing situation.
- Reset This PC isn’t the way to go when a webpage doesn’t load, your wireless mouse won’t connect, or you haven’t even tried restarting your computer to fix an unpleasant error message.
- Reset Because this PC deletes all of your software, you’ll have to reinstall it afterward. That’s a time-consuming task that’s well worth it if it means your machine is back in working order, but it’s a waste of time if all you had to do was clear the cache in your browser.
This PC’s Availability Has Been Reset
In Windows 11 and 10, the Reset This PC utilities are available, as are Refresh Your PC and Reset Your PC in Windows 8.
Windows 7 and Vista don’t have any repair tools that work the same way as Reset Your PC does. However, the Repair Install process, only available in Windows XP, is similar to the Reset Your PC Keep My Files version.
How to Reset This Computer
Reset This computer is simple to operate. However, getting to the appropriate spot (Advanced Startup Options) to get it started is usually the most challenging thing to figure out.
Holding down the Shift key while tapping or pressing any Reset option available from any of the Power icons found across Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8 is one of the simplest ways to get to the ASO menu.
- If you’re using Windows 11/10, pick Troubleshoot and then Reset this PC once you’re in. Then, choose between refreshing your PC or Resetting your PC on a Windows 8 machine.
- Choosing to Keep your files in Windows 11/10 (or Refresh your PC in Windows 8) allows you to reinstall Windows while keeping all of your files, such as saved papers, downloaded music, and so on.
Remove everything (or Reset your PC in Windows 8) in Windows 11/10 to reinstall Windows without preserving anything (every installed program will be removed and all of your files deleted). This procedure is analogous to the Windows clean install procedure in that it starts you over from scratch.
You may also notice a Restore factory settings option on some systems. If you’ve upgraded your computer since then, select this option to restore it to the state it was in when you bought it, which could entail an earlier version of Windows.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to begin the “reset” process, which might take as little as 10 minutes or as long as a few hours or more, depending on your choices.
Windows 10’s Imageless Recovery
The history of Windows Recovery is extensive. Windows XP introduced “recovery partitions,” which were later utilized by Windows Vista and Windows 7. You could restore your PC by restarting it and booting into these distinct partitions, which contained a compressed copy of Windows and the manufacturer’s customizations.
The “Reset This PC” function in Windows 8 exposed the recovery capability in a standard method, removing the need for PC makers to create their recovery tools. In addition, while Windows 8 didn’t have a recovery sector, it supported “recovery images” from which it could restore. You could even remove the recovery image and reinstall it with your own.
The “Reset This PC” option in Windows 10 has always worked differently than in Windows 8. Recovery with Windows 10 is “imageless.” Instead of using space on the drive for a recovery image, Windows 10 makes a new copy of Windows by assembling files already present in the Windows installation. This eliminates the need for a separate recovery partition. Furthermore, any installed security updates are saved rather than destroyed, so you won’t have to update everything after the recovery process, as you would with Windows 7.
Reset This Computer’s Future
- Microsoft’s Lower stated that the entire interface would be simplified in the future by removing “hidden squirrel access points,” such as the Fresh Start button in Windows Security.
- He also stated that he wanted to do more with Cloud Get. Instead of using the machine’s local hardware drivers during the reinstallation, he wanted Windows to download the latest, most up-to-date hardware drivers. Of course, that’s simply a dream, and there’s no assurance Microsoft will achieve it.
- Lower also mentioned that he’d like to know if customers want Cloud Download to allow them to update to newer builds or downgrade to older releases, so that’s another potential feature to consider.
Whatever Microsoft does, Windows recovery has gone a long way since the days of Windows 7, when you had to utilize a manufacturer-supplied recovery partition or reinstall Windows from the ground up.
Conclusion
I hope you found this information helpful. Please fill out the form below if you have any queries or comments.
User Questions:
1. Is it worthwhile to reset Windows 10?
Yes, resetting Windows 10 is a good idea if you can, especially every six months if possible. Unfortunately, the majority of customers only utilize a Windows reset when their computer is malfunctioning. However, a large amount of data is stored over time, some with your help and much without.
2. Will rebooting the computer eradicate the virus?
Yes, a factory reset frequently gets rid of viruses… but (doesn’t there always have to be a ‘but’?) Not all of the time. Because of the enormous variety and ever-changing nature of computer viruses, it’s hard to determine whether or not a factory reset will be effective in removing malware from your device.
3. Will resetting my computer get rid of hackers?
This means that any items that infected your system with a virus will be erased from your device. As a result, it’s possible that performing a factory reset will clear your device of viruses or other dangerous software. I hope this information is useful.
4. Speed & space used for Clean Wipe Install vs. “Reset this PC” Factoids that are mildly fascinating.
Clean Wipe Install vs "Reset this PC" – speed & space used. Mildly interesting factoids. from Windows10
5. Do I need to “Reset This PC”? (Microsoft Windows 10)
